Alexander the Great

Important Terms, People, and Events

The Early Years, page 2

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Alexander was born in July 356 B.C., the sixth day of
the Macedonian month Loïos, to King Philip II and his wife Myrtale
(better known to us now by her adopted name, Olympias). Under Philip, Macedonia
flourished and grew, while Olympias proved to be the most powerful
of his wives. Before Philip's reign, other Greek nations looked
down upon Macedonia as barbarian, with obsolete political institutions,
coarse speech and manners, and little to offer in battle. Philip
therefore began reforms and expansion that Alexander would bring
to a peak for Macedonia.

Two marriages brought Philip no suitable male heir. His
third wife would be the niece of King Arrybas of Epirus (and daughter
of the deceased King Neoptolemus). Plutarch asserts that the two
met and fell in love years before their union became politically
convenient. In any case, Epirus's allegiance would be useful to
Philip, and Arrybas gladly approved of their marriage. Just fifteen
years later, Philip would drive Arrybas from the throne and replace
him with a brother of Olympias.

Philip and Olympias were far from a happy couple. Philip
went on to marry three more women, and he is said to have fathered
several children by still other partners, while also enjoying the
company of young boys–none of which was particularly unusual in
his time. These exploits may have wounded Olympias's vanity, but they
did not hold back her ambition. From the beginning she showed a
forceful personality, though not even eighteen at the time of their
marriage. Olympias was devoted to the orgiastic rites of Dionysus,
and her eccentricity did not make her easier to get along with.

This disruptive family environment would have significant
consequences for Alexander's development, though the extent of
the troubles between mother and father is disputed. The mutual
dislike of his parents was complicated by his father's absence–away
on campaigns–during most of his earliest years.

Alexander's mother, therefore, was responsible for guiding
his formative years. Her first priority was to instill in him a
sense of destiny and the greatness to which he would ascend. She
may also have tried to turn him against his father, especially
criticizing Philip's moral shortcomings. This indoctrination likely
contributed to the dislike that developed between father and son,
while Alexander always held his mother in the deepest respect,
despite knowledge of her less scrupulous actions. Moreover, the
dynamics of these relationships likely contributed to the sexual
reluctance or restraint apparent in Alexander's later years. On
the other hand, however, Alexander did feel genuine admiration
for his father, and in many ways he followed Philip's path as a
military leader and king.

The details of Alexander's early life are difficult to
confirm with direct evidence amid the many legends that surround
his life. Most accounts do paint him as a precocious child, accustomed
to association with great politicians, artists, and generals, from
whom he quickly learned through imitation. Among other talents,
such as archery and javelin, Alexander showed a particular aptitude
for horsemanship.